This section contains an overview of the most relevant events in Switzerland.
1 July 2026
The medieval Dance of Death was a familiar theme in Switzerland, southern Germany and France during the 14th and 15th centuries. Its emergence was influenced not only by the plague epidemics of the time but also by the orders of the Dominicans and Franciscans. The Dance of Death combined three medieval motifs: the dance motif, … Read more » “HAP Grieshaber and the Basel Dance of Death in Arlesheim”
17 June 2026
Although yodelling is also practised in other Alpine countries, it is in Switzerland that it reaches the highest musical standard in terms of the number of practitioners, the associations, the quality and the (modern) interpretations. The Swiss Federal Yodelling Festival in Basel In December 2025, UNESCO inscribed Swiss yodelling on the Representative List of the … Read more » “The Swiss Federal Yodelling Festival in Basel”
18 May 2026
On Tuesday, 14 April 2026, the Haegsche Tijd Foundation organised a gathering in The Hague to mark the birthday of Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695), the inventor of the balance spring. This foundation not only celebrates his birthday annually but is also preparing a major international event to mark the 400th anniversary of Christiaan Huygens’ birth in … Read more » “Frédérique Constant and Dutch watchmaking in Switzerland”
21 April 2026
On 19 April, the Collégiale (11th century) in St-Imier (canton of Bern) hosted a unique concert featuring more than 15 ‘serpents’. The serpent (nomen est omen) was invented in France in the 16th century. It was used to accompany Gregorian chants and other church hymns. The highlight of the concert was the duet between the … Read more » “Duet between the Serpent and the Saxophone in de Collégiale of St. Imier”
24 March 2026
What do Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) and Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) have in common? They admired, read, and studied the works of Johann Peter Hebel (1760–1826), despite not mastering the Alemannic dialect of Basel and Baden. Hebel was not just a local writer and poet (also in German) from Basel. He … Read more » “Johann Peter Hebel Commemorated in Basel”
14 March 2026
The Lyôbâle organisation has set itself the goal of filling the air along the Rhine in Basel with the beautiful sounds of the alphorn for 30 minutes once a year. To this end, groups of alphorn players line up on both banks of the Rhine, whilst soloists perform on the ferries. This marks the sixth … Read more » “Alphorn Poetry Lyôbâle on the Rhine”
28 February 2026
The Basler Fasnacht is over again. It is interesting for historians, however, to gain insight into the (international) politics and (regional and national) themes of the moment 100 years later. The lanterns and subjects (and the Schnitzelbängg) give an impression of what occupies people; they mirror the spirit of the times and society. Impressions of … Read more » “A Digital Museum of Basler Laternen”
13 February 2026
These are confusing times for the Romans. Julius Caesar paraded in 2023 with his legions through the streets of Basel, then better known (or rather unknown) as a Celtic settlement on the Münster hill and near the old gasworks. Caesar (100–44 BC) founded the Colonia Augusta Raurica in 44 BC and the Colonia Julia Equestris … Read more » “The Romans, Fasnacht and the Basel Museum of Antiquities”
2 February 2026
After conquering what is now Switzerland in 13 BC, the Romans quickly discovered the mineral springs at Aquae Helvetica, now known as Baden (canton of Aargau). Geneva had already been conquered in 120 BC, and Nyon (Colonia Julia Equestris) and Augst/Kaiseraugst (Colonia Augusta Raurica) had been Roman towns since 44 BC. Still, Baden was the … Read more » “Baden, mineral springs, Inhalatorium and 150 years of Kursaal”
17 January 2026
From the old town to the shore of the Murtensee/Lac Morat, immersive and interactive works transform Murten (from 21 January to 1 February 2026) into an open-air stage. The magic of the Murten Light Festival does not just happen on the streets – it begins long before, in the creative process. A programme committee carefully … Read more » “The Magic of the Murten Light Festival”
